Related Articles

Southern Missouri is a land of contrasts. Once a swampy, alluvial plain, the region now sustains fertile cotton and rice farms. The state's tallest peak, Taum Sauk Mountain, rises 1,772 feet above sea level in central-south Missouri, while the southeastern "bootheel" is defined by the Mississippi River. Historical sites remembering the fallen are not far from Branson, the "Live Music Capital of the World." East to west, Missouri shows visitors where the fun is.

Cape Girardeau Area

This historic town on the Mississippi River was established by the French in 1793. Bollinger Mill State Historic Site (mostateparks.com), Fort D Historic Site (fortdhistoricsite.com), Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church (oldstvincents.org) and the Trail of Tears State Park (mostateparks.com) all recall different eras in the town's history. Jones Heritage Farms (jonesheritagefarms.com) looks toward the future with free tours of the farm's eco- and animal- friendly agricultural practices. Eight access points make getting on the multi-use Cape LaCroix Recreation Trail, open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., easy. Cape Rock Park (no website; North Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau; no phone) is a deliberately undeveloped natural area with views of the Mississippi River.

Poplar Bluff Region

The Berry-Glenn Historical Museum (no website; 302 S. Route 51, Puxico; 573-222-6951) is in a historic 1904 Frisco Railroad depot. The Current River Heritage Museum and Gift Shop (no website; 101 Washington Street, Doniphan; 573-996-5298) displays antiques in an old store just off Courthouse Square in Doniphan near Heritage Homestead, a living history area with a restored 1860s log cabin and barn and the Tom Kennon Blacksmith Shop. The adjacent Doniphan Cemetery is reportedly haunted. Nineteen miles of multi-use trails wander through woods of oak, hickory and pine at the University Forest Conservation Area. (mdc4.mdc.mo.gov)

Springfield and Vicinity

Springfield's Historic C-Street (itsalldowntown.com), a mix of art galleries, antique stores and trendy shops along Commercial Street, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge that crosses the railroad tracks is the longest cantilevered-steel span in the country. The battle of Wilson's Creek was a Confederate victory. Preserved as Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (nps.gov/wicr), the park has a 4.9-mile self-guided tour for vehicle, bicycle and foot traffic, with access to additional hiking and equestrian trails. Sixty-five miles west in Diamond, rangers at the George Washington Carver National Monument (nps.gov/gwca) lead guided tours twice a day along the Carver Nature Trail.

Branson Vicinity

Beyond Broadway musicals and theatrical shows, Branson (bransontourismcenter.com) has educational family fun. Favorites include the Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure (thebutterflypalace.com), the Hollywood Wax Museum (hollywoodwaxmuseum.com) and the Titanic Museum (titanicbranson.com). The Ralph Foster Museum (rfostermuseum.com) on the College of the Ozarks preserves Ozark Mountain history. Bonniebrook (roseoneill.org), the home of Rose O'Neill the inventor of the kewpie doll, is open April 1 to November 30. Recreational pursuits at Table Rock State Park (mostateparks.com) on Table Rock Lake include scuba diving, swimming, boating, fishing and hiking.

About the Author

Karen Sweeny-Justice is a writer living in Surprise, Ariz. Her work has appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine and "RubberStampMadness" magazine, as well as in newspapers around the United States. She also writes book reviews for "RT Book Reviews" magazine.